South Carolina Principal Named NASSP National Principal of the Year, Transformed Struggling School

Amid National Principals Month, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) announced that Tracie Anderson Swilley, principal of Fairfield Central High School in Winnsboro, SC, is the 2025 NASSP National Principal of the Year.

"Tracie is the real deal," said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. "Tracie's leadership has shaped Fairfield Central into a model of learning. Her approach to cultivating future leaders and fostering a culture of high expectations is exactly what we need more of in education. Tracie's influence extends far beyond the walls of Fairfield Central, demonstrating the power of the principal to transform entire communities through their dedication and expertise."

Under Anderson Swilley's leadership, Fairfield Central High School has seen remarkable improvements:

• Among Black students, who make up 88% of the student body, math proficiency rates rose from 46% to 74% and reading proficiency improved from 60% to 76% in the last three years.

• The school has achieved the highest graduation rate in school history at 90.1% after two years of her leadership.

• Eighty-one percent of graduates in the class of 2024 were accepted to two or four-year higher education institutions.

These achievements are particularly noteworthy given that 100% of the school's students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

As principal, Anderson Swilley has supported the promotion of many of her assistant principals to the principalship, and she has promoted teachers within her building to the role of assistant principal. She has also mentored principals throughout the state. She believes that everyone can achieve with proper assistance and support and uses data to guide her faculty and staff in best practices to improve student outcomes.

Anderson Swilley's innovative approaches include:

• Creating a school-wide "Griffin Pride" initiative to combat negative perceptions.

• Partnering with Eau Claire Cooperative Health to offer telehealth appointments for students.

• Adding buses to transport students home after extracurricular activities, ensuring equitable participation.

The National Principal of the Year announcement came during a gala at NASSP's Illuminate celebration, bringing together current and former State Principals of the Year to build their advocacy skills and strengthen education in their schools and beyond.

For the NASSP Principal of the Year program, each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools and the Department of Defense Education Activity select one middle level or high school principal to represent their state or department, from whom three finalists are chosen, with one chosen as the National Principal of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding middle level and high school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.

In 2025 NASSP will expand its program by recognizing both middle level and high school leaders for state and national awards. For more information, visit nassp.org/poy.

Photos of Anderson Swilley and Illuminate are available upon request.

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